It wasn’t hard to go to America.
With power in hand, what could possibly be difficult?
Jinseong and Rise boarded a private jet of one of Japan’s major corporations that had ventured into America and comfortably flew to their destination. Instead of a taxi rigged with surveillance equipment, they were sent off in a limousine provided by one of those blessed individuals.
Upon boarding the limousine, the first thing Jinseong and Rise did was…
Of course, sightseeing!
As soon as they arrived in America, they excitedly began their tour. Dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts to blend in as travelers, they roamed around Times Square, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the zoo.
At Times Square, they briefly gazed at some ridiculously expensive advertisements before wandering around nearby shops. Rise picked up cute accessories and handbags to show off.
At the museum, they lightly appreciated the artwork, but nothing particularly caught Jinseong’s eye. To be precise, there weren’t any masterpieces that had gained fame after the war, nor any works he had seen or heard of before.
If there had been such pieces, he might have thought about buying them in advance… but there were none, so they just enjoyed a cursory glance and moved on.
Rise, who followed him, had no great depth of appreciation for art; she was much more interested in things that regular kids her age would like, rather than this “sophisticated” stuff. So, her focus wasn’t really on admiring art but rather on the fact that she was just wandering around with Jinseong.
After finishing their museum visit, they headed to the zoo.
Fortunately, this place was right up Rise’s alley.
A group of penguins living in an environment crafted by wizards to resemble the polar regions.
Sea lions lounging on a shore with artificial waves crashing in from a device.
Capybaras soaking joyfully in a geothermal hot spring.
Monkeys engaging in a sword fight with genetically engineered one-foot-long bananas.
Ostriches running around while their flustered keeper was riding on top of them.
And baby lions playing together…
The zoo was packed with animals that matched Rise’s whimsical sensibilities, and as the sun set, the lights turning on everywhere stimulated her emotions even more. Additionally, the redwood sculptures placed around for security and decoration added to the enchanting ambiance, making it feel like a fairy tale land.
“Deity, look over there! That sea lion just slapped that giant dog’s face!”
“Haha. Seems to be a visitor’s pet. From the size, I’d guess it’s a wolfdog… Quite the scene, they might even sue each other.”
“Deity! Look over there too! There’s a bird on top of a penguin on top of a capybara!”
“Haha, that’s a flamingo. With its red body and unique calls.”
“There’s also this strange animal. A platypus? Or is it a platy-platypus? Its body looks like a beaver’s but it has a bird’s bill!”
“Haha, that would be a monotreme. Quite the unique creature.”
Rise enjoyed the zoo like a kid at an amusement park.
She took selfies with the animals as her background, snapping frantically at anything that looked interesting. She tossed fruit to the animals that could be fed, and if an especially curious-looking animal caught her eye, she’d play around using her divine power.
At one point, when a platypus opened its bill as if yawning and she saw its lack of teeth, she was taken by surprise, or when she spotted a giraffe sleeping with its long neck bent sideways and wondered if it was dead, she gasped in shock. She also expressed sympathy when she saw a keeper sneak off with a beaver’s home, and later chuckled when the beaver returned to find its home missing and despaired.
In all these moments, Rise’s behavior was just like that of any ordinary girl her age.
Seeing such a joyous sight, Jinseong couldn’t help but smile satisfactorily.
While worry isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it doesn’t do anyone any good if it lingers too long.
Excess cannot compare to deficiency.
Long contemplation can lead to the overwhelming feeling of wandering through a maze in a pitch-black night devoid of light, and extended reflection can feel like being submerged in the deep sea with no clear path ahead.
Thus, it is better to keep worries short-lived; forget them, but don’t obsess over them.
If something is truly unsolvable, leaving it be might just bring clarity like a lightning strike, leading to the answers revealing themselves in everyday life.
That’s why Jinseong brought Rise here.
She possessed qualities similar to that of a practitioner.
Even though she was devoted to a deity, and had the potential to become a fanatic, she carried a nature that allowed her to ponder, realize, and embody her learnings like a practitioner.
To help her move forward in the right way.
To ensure she wouldn’t flounder, caught up in one single thing.
He brought her along for a little refreshment.
Of course, while he also aimed to broaden her horizons and expand her consciousness through travel, and there were certainly benefits to him in taking her along…
At the very least, it was beneficial for her.
That much was certain.
“Alright, it seems we’ve seen all the animals. Let’s see… it’s getting late, so let’s check out one last place.”
“One more place?”
“Yes. It’s a street that can only be enjoyed at times when the sun hasn’t risen.”
“A place where the sun isn’t up… ah, could it be… are you referring to that place…? The casino…?”
“Haha. That place can be enjoyed even when the sun’s up, can’t it?”
With Rise looking at him, her eyes filled with expectation, Jinseong left the zoo.
After that, they hopped into the awaiting limousine and stated the name of one of the most famous locations in America.
“To Wall Street.”
—
Wall Street had little to offer in terms of sights.
It was merely a tributary poking out from the great river known as Broadway, and its narrow, ordinary alley stood in stark contrast to the grandeur of Broadway, leaving visitors disappointed with thoughts like, “This is what the renowned Wall Street looks like?”
Moreover, cars were not allowed in, and suited individuals consumed by money and business hurried about, providing little sense of spectacle for the tourists.
You see.
In the past, it surely was like that.
Wall Street was just an ordinary alley adjoining Broadway, and while it was the world’s premier financial district, it didn’t reflect that status at all.
But as time passed, Wall Street grew and transformed.
Just like a small stream carves the earth and turns into a brook, then a small river, and eventually becomes a mighty river, Wall Street steadily became vast.
High-rise buildings emerged.
Like tall walls built against the ancient Indians, high-rises rose like barriers.
These high-rises densely filled the streets and shot up toward the sky like trees reaching for sunlight.
In turn, they spread across the area like seeds from trees, forming a forest that continuously expanded Wall Street.
Wall Street elongated.
Wall Street widened.
The narrow alley that only allowed pedestrians was expanded to accommodate cars, and the security barriers originally installed to prevent terrorism gradually transformed into more sophisticated forms through science and magic, ultimately being replaced with artifacts.
The affluence of Wall Street directly led to its safety, and military installations were established throughout those towering buildings.
Air defense military facilities were set up, where soldiers were stationed to guard against terror threats.
Inside the buildings of Wall Street, hired security and bodyguards were plentiful, with some basements even housing PMC facilities.
Thus, Wall Street continually evolved.
It grew, lengthened, improved its safety, and soared in height.
That’s how Wall Street became what it is today.
A forest of buildings stacked densely.
A dangerous dwelling brimming with wolves crazed for money.
And an influx of other wolves seeking to prey on that wealth.
Here lies a maelstrom of capitalist desire created by all these elements coming together.
“Wow, Times Square was impressive, but this place is incredible in a completely different sense….”
Upon stepping onto Wall Street at night, Rise marveled.
“The clock shops and suit stores are really… plentiful….”
What she saw immediately upon disembarking were the numerous shops selling clocks and suits.
It made her think it might be more apt to call it Tailor Street or Watch Street, given the sheer number of storefronts.
Even in the shadow of night, the countless shops shone brightly and were unwavering in their reception of customers.
“These are shops that have targeted the wolves of Wall Street.”
Predators have come seeking to devour the wolves.
They were keen on preying on those who earn generously, luring them with ostentation and glamour befitting their luxurious lifestyles. Among those baiting with such luxury, others were looking to profit off them too.
“There are cafes and restaurants too… the cafes feel more like restaurants.”
When one touches a lot of money, their sense of currency gets numbed.
Especially when that large sum doesn’t even belong to them.
The “affordable” places on Wall Street are precisely targeting this disconnect.
And at the same time, they also aim for tourists.
Because those who come for sightseeing inevitably end up spending more.
“Let’s see… yes, let’s head there.”
And where Jinseong intended to go was one of these establishments, notably on the pricier side—a café.
